Improvement in station-indicators



J. R. BALSLEY.

STATION-INDICATOR.

No.178.895. V Patented June 20,1876.

ATTORNEYS.

J. ROBINSON BALSLEY, OF GONNELLSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT lN STATION-INDICATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent Nol78,95, dated June 20, 1876; application filed May 1, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. ROBINSON BALSLEY, of Oonnellsville, Fayette county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Station and Street Indicator, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a front view of my improved indicator, parts heingbroken away to show the construction. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, part being broken away, and partly in section, through line ff, Fig. 1, to show the construction. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of the same, taken through the line YY, Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a .detail view of the inner side of the pawl-lever.

struction, convenient in' use, and easily operated.

The invention will first be described in connection with the drawing, and then pointed out in claim. I

1n the drawing, A is the case, in the front of which is an opening closed with a glass plate, through which the names of the stations are seen. B and O are two parallel rollers, the journals of which revolve in bearin gs in the ends of the case A. To one end of the rollers B O are attached gear-wheels D E, the teeth of which mesh into each other, so that the rollers B O-may always move together and through equal spaces. Fis a strip of canvas, upon which are printed the names of all the stations of a road, in regular order, then the names of the stations at which the fast trains stop, and the names of the stations upon the branch roads, so thatthe same indicators may be used upon the regular trains, the fast trains, and the trains of the branch roads, by simply adjusting the canvas so that the proper part will be used. The ends of the canvas are attached to the rollers B 0, so that it can be wound from one to the other of said rollers by turning them in one or the other direction. The canvas F passes over a guideroller, Gr, pivoted to the upper forward corner of they ends of the case, and over a guideroller, vH, placed below the opening 'in the front of the case. The journals of the roller H work in bearings that slide up and down in grooves J in the ends of the case A, and to which are attached springs or elastic cords K, which pass over guide-pulleys pivoted to the bottomof the case, A. To the projecting end of the journal of the upper roller B is attached a ratchet -wheel P, and a knob, Q. Upon the journal of the roller B, at the inner side of the ratchet-wheel P, is placed an equal armed lever, M, to the upper part of which is pivoted a reversible or double pawl, N, in such a position that either end may engage with the teeth of the ratchet-Wheel P. The pawl N is held in either position by a spring, 0, attached to the lever M, and bearing against a projection formed upon the middle part of the lever M, which projection may pass through a curved slot in the lever M, so that the spring 0 may be placed upon the inner side of the lever M. The end parts of the lever M move through keepers W, attached to the end of the case A. To the ends of the lever M are attached cords L, for convenience in operating the said lever. B is a lever, pivoted to the inner side of the back of the case A, and its outer end projects through a slot in the end of the case A, so that it may be struck and vibrated by the arm'of the lever M as it moves up and down. is connected, by a jointed or flexible connection, with the lever S, the lower end of which is pivoted to the case A, and its upper end projects through a slot in the top of the case A, and has a hammer attached to its upper end to strike the bell U, attached to the top of the said case A. With the lever-hammer S is connected a spring, T, which, when the lever B is released from the lever M, draws the said lever-hammer'against the bell U, and gives the alarm. a

With this construction, as the train, car, or boat leaves a station, street, or landing, one of the cords L is pulled, which turns the rollers B O, and brings into view the name of the next station, street, or landing, which operation causes the hammer S to strike the bell U to call the attention of the passengers to the indicator. As the train, car, or boat approaches the said station, street, or landing, the other cord L is pulled, which brings the The inner end of the lever B lever M into position to be again operated, and also again strikes the bell to warn the passengers that they are approaching the indicated station.

The indicator is adjusted for the return trip by simply reversing the pawl N. The indicator may be turned without sounding the bell, by means of the knob QQ To the rear side of the case A are'attached hooks V, to hook into keepers attached to the ends of the car, so that the indicator maybe securely supported, and may be readily changed from one end of the car to the other, as required.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let J. ROBINSON BALSLEY.

Witnesses:

DAVIES CARSON, JAMES CALHOUN. 

